Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Maty Ryan has been having a great season so far in 2018/19 for the club and the 26-year-old Australian international has been winning growing praise for his performances between the sticks – so much so that Manchester United have been linked with him.

On the assumption that he takes to the pitch once more this weekend as we face Cardiff City in Saturday’s early kickoff, it will be his 50th club appearance following his arrival from Valencia in the summer of 2017.

As the Argus reference, recently the Sun claimed that the Socceroo was the top target at Old Trafford should they be unable to tie David de Gea down to a new deal.

Okay, it’s the Sun so we all know there’s about 1% chance it’s accurate and that’s probably being kind to them given their record on truth but the fact he’s being mentioned at that level admirably demonstrates his worth to us and how people are viewing his performances.

The player himself acknowledges it’s a boost and there’s obviously an element of flattery there, but rumours are rumours and he knows he can’t put any real stock in it, as he jokes himself if he’d actually played for the sides he’s been linked with already his career record would read Real Madrid and Liverpool and countless others.

“Rumours float around all the time. If I’d actually played for every team I’d been linked with through the years, I would have represented Real Madrid, Liverpool and quite a few others by now! It’s not something I think about, although it’s hard to ignore it completely when all your family and friends are messaging you to see whether it’s true. All I’ll say is this: I love doing what I’m doing and where I’m doing it.”

If he continues to get the plaudits, the transfer rumours will only grow.